scholarly journals Challenging public health acceptability of current international standards on tobacco products: paving the way for strengthened cooperation

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-107
Author(s):  
A. HAN
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ella McLean

<p>The New Zealand Government has indicated its intention to legislate for the plain packaging of tobacco products. This paper considers what path New Zealand should take in implementing its own plain packaging regime. Consideration of New Zealand’s particular interests is necessary in determining what constitutes the most appropriate approach to plain packaging for New Zealand. Whether these interests would be best represented through a policy of alignment with Australia or by implementing an alternative approach to plain packaging should inform the way in which the New Zealand Government proceeds with plain packaging. This paper considers alignment with Australia to be the most effective way to address the public health concerns presented by tobacco products and recommends that plain packaging is implemented in alignment with Australia’s plain packaging regime. However, this paper also recognises that a policy of alignment gives rise to certain risks and seeks to demonstrate that there are ways in which these risks may be reduced. New Zealand should consider the implementation of certain measures to reduce the risk of investment arbitration as well as the possibility of variations on the basic position of alignment in order to reduce the risk of WTO claims against plain packaging.</p>


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ella McLean

<p>The New Zealand Government has indicated its intention to legislate for the plain packaging of tobacco products. This paper considers what path New Zealand should take in implementing its own plain packaging regime. Consideration of New Zealand’s particular interests is necessary in determining what constitutes the most appropriate approach to plain packaging for New Zealand. Whether these interests would be best represented through a policy of alignment with Australia or by implementing an alternative approach to plain packaging should inform the way in which the New Zealand Government proceeds with plain packaging. This paper considers alignment with Australia to be the most effective way to address the public health concerns presented by tobacco products and recommends that plain packaging is implemented in alignment with Australia’s plain packaging regime. However, this paper also recognises that a policy of alignment gives rise to certain risks and seeks to demonstrate that there are ways in which these risks may be reduced. New Zealand should consider the implementation of certain measures to reduce the risk of investment arbitration as well as the possibility of variations on the basic position of alignment in order to reduce the risk of WTO claims against plain packaging.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  

Electronic cigarettes are the tobacco products most commonly used by youths in the United States. The use of e-cigarettes, also known as vaping or JUULing, is a public health epidemic. This collection offers reviews and research to assist pediatric health care providers in identifying and treating adolescent use and exposure to e-cigarettes. https://shop.aap.org/pediatric-collections-vaping-effects-and-solutions-paperback/


2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2021-056628
Author(s):  
Mônica Nunes-Rubinstein ◽  
Teresa Leão

ObjectivesTo identify proponents and opponents of the commercialisation and marketing of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs), identify the arguments used on both sides and compare how the arguments have changed over time, we analysed three policy discussions occurring in 2009, 2018 and 2019.MethodsWe conducted a content analysis of one document and six videos from these discussions, provided on the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency website, or upon request.ResultsThe arguments most used by tobacco companies were related to claims that the use of e-cigarettes and HTPs is less harmful than conventional tobacco. Unions that support its commercialisation also argued that lifting the ban would prevent smuggling and guarantee their quality. On the other side, universities, medical and anti-tobacco institutions argued that such devices may have health risks, including the risk of inducing cigarette smoking. In 2009, most arguments belonged to the ‘health’ theme, while in 2018 and 2019 economic arguments and those related to morals and ethics were frequently used.ConclusionsThose that supported the commercialisation and marketing of e-cigarettes and HTPs first focused on arguments of harm reduction, while 10 years later the right to access and potential economic consequences also became common. Public health agents and academics must gather evidence to effectively respond to these arguments and discuss these policies, and must prepare themselves to use and respond to arguments related to moral and economic themes.


Author(s):  
T.M. Seeiso ◽  
C.M.E. McCrindle

Since the closure of the Lesotho abattoir in 2003, only imported meat can be legally sold. However, it was estimated in 2007 that 80 % of the meat sold at butcheries comes from informal slaughter. The aim of this study was to investigate the situation. The number and location of informal butcheries in Lesotho (n = 143) were recorded and mapped using Geographical Information Systems. Observations (photographs) of informal slaughter indicated a lack of hygiene, unskilled slaughtermen and illegal disposal of offal with possible environmental pollution. In addition, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the microbiological quality of meat from randomly selected carcasses (n = 237) of cattle, sheep and pigs from a sample of 44 butcheries, 4 of which were associated with registered supermarkets. As a control, samples for microbiological assay were taken from imported meat originating from carcasses (n = 20) slaughtered at a registered abattoir in South Africa. Of the 44 butcheries investigated only the 4 commercial butcheries associated with supermarkets sold imported meat only; 3 butcheries sold meat inspected at government slaughter slabs (n = 3), while the rest (n = 37) sold both imported and informally slaughtered meat. In terms of Lesotho legislation, informally slaughtered meat is only for home consumption. The bacteriological counts from all samples showed a total bacterial plate count exceeding 30 organisms per mℓ in contrast with the controls which all showed a count less than 5 colonies per mℓ. This was found for both imported and informally slaughtered meat sold in Lesotho. In addition, meat samples from butcheries showed the presence of the potential pathogens Salmonella (n = 2), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 12) and Escherichia coli (n=15). During the study, anthrax was confirmed in 9 human patients, 5 of whom died, after consumption of informally slaughtered livestock. Although no cases of animal abuse were detected, it was considered that informal slaughter can prejudice livestock welfare. It was concluded that the current situation is not acceptable in terms of meat safety. Thus, the Veterinary Public Health Directorate of the National Veterinary Services has prioritised the monitoring of butchers, registration of slaughter slabs and a general extension campaign to improve hygiene and animal welfare standards for slaughter in Lesotho. This paper highlights the major risks associated with meat consumption without Veterinary Public Health intervention in accordance with international standards.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Anne Ines Klofenstein ◽  
Carina Nina Vorisek ◽  
Aliaksandra Shutsko ◽  
Moritz Lehne ◽  
Julian Sass ◽  
...  

Adopting international standards within health research communities can elevate data FAIRness and widen analysis possibilities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mapping feasibility against HL7® Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources® (FHIR)® of a generic metadata schema (MDS) created for a central search hub gathering COVID-19 health research (studies, questionnaires, documents = MDS resource types). Mapping results were rated by calculating the percentage of FHIR coverage. Among 86 items to map, total mapping coverage was 94%: 50 (58%) of the items were available as standard resources in FHIR and 31 (36%) could be mapped using extensions. Five items (6%) could not be mapped to FHIR. Analyzing each MDS resource type, there was a total mapping coverage of 93% for studies and 95% for questionnaires and documents, with 61% of the MDS items available as standard resources in FHIR for studies, 57% for questionnaires and 52% for documents. Extensions in studies, questionnaires and documents were used in 32%, 38% and 43% of items, respectively. This work shows that FHIR can be used as a standardized format in registries for clinical, epidemiological and public health research. However, further adjustments to the initial MDS are recommended – and two additional items even needed when implementing FHIR. Developing a MDS based on the FHIR standard could be a future approach to reduce data ambiguity and foster interoperability.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Van Teijlingen ◽  
Cecilia Benoit ◽  
Ivy Bourgeault ◽  
Raymond DeVries ◽  
Jane Sandall ◽  
...  

It is widely accepted that policy-makers (in Nepal and elsewhere) can learn valuable lessons from the way other countries run their health and social services. We highlight some of the specific contributions the discipline of sociology can make to cross-national comparative research in the public health field. Sociologists call attention to often unnoticed social and cultural factors that influence the way national reproductive health care systems are created and operated. In this paper we address questions such as: ‘Why do these health services appear to be operating successfully in one country, but not another?’; ‘What is it in one country that makes a particular public health intervention successful and how is the cultural context different in a neighbouring country?’ The key examples in this paper focus on maternity care and sex education in the Netherlands and the UK, as examples to highlight the power of cross-national research. Our key messages are: a) Cross-national comparative research can help us to understand the design and running of health services in one country, say Nepal, by learning from a comparison with other countries, for example Sri Lanka or India. b) Cultural factors unique to a country affect the way that reproductive health care systems operate. c) Therefore,we need to understand why and how services work in a certain cultural context before we start trying to implement them in another cultural context.


1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Κ. ΠΟΛΥΔΩΡΟΥ

The author is referring to the anti - echinococciasis en npaign in Cyprus which started in February 1971. A 15 years program was arranged in order to obtain a complete eradication of the disease. Since the application of this program that is 2 1/2 years 33.748 stray dogs were killed and 2.532 female dogs became sterile by hysterectomy. Information about the disease and its dangers was given by specialized persons or groups to different State staff, slaughterhouses staff, animal breeders, schools» housewives etc. Complementary measures were taken : registration and taxation of dogs» disinfestation etc. The results of this campaign are already very satisfactory. The infestation rate in young ruminants and swine was reduced 83,3 - 95% and in dogs 58.8%. Especially the infestation rate in dogs beign 6.8% during 1972 dropped to 2.8% in the first six months of 1973. The echinococciasis which was a scourge for the animal breeding and the Public Health of Cyprus is on the way of its definite eradication.


Author(s):  
Jennifer Mathias ◽  
Pratap Kumar Jena ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar Shah ◽  
Jay Prakash Sah ◽  
Koshish Raj Gautam ◽  
...  

Background: Tobacco use is a major problem of public health significance as the tobacco smoking causes a wide range of diseases and adverse health impacts that affect nearly every organ of the body. The COTPA, 2003 i.e., the Indian smoke-free legislation “Prohibition of smoking in Public places” which forbids smoking in public places, including educational institutions. The main objective of this study is to assess the compliance of Section 4 and Section 6(b) of cigarettes and other tobacco products act (COTPA), 2003 in schools, to observe compliance of smoking ban at public places, to observe compliance of display of signboards at prominent places, to observe for direct and indirect evidence of smoking and other tobacco products used in school buildings and premises, to study the availability of tobacco products within 100 yards of school premises.Methods: A cross sectional survey in 100 schools in Dakshina Kannada district using compliance guide developed by partners of Bloomberg School of Public health to reduce tobacco use.Results: In 100 schools, 55 were rural area and 45 from urban area, further division shows government/semi-government schools were 44 and Private schools were 56. Section 4 for the presence of signboard, there is an association between the Management wise schools and presence of signboards (p=0.001), for section 6(b) of COTPA, there is an association between this Section and type of management (p=0.004).Conclusions: The schools depending upon the location show varied compliance towards the law. The Section 6(b) shows better compliance than Section 4.This study will help to address the implementation issues of COTPA. 


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